Newport won 16 and drew 2 of their 26 matches to end December with wins over Barbarians (46 v 20), Coventry, Bristol, Neath, Gloucester, Ebbw Vale and Glamorgan Wanderers.
Mike Lewis played all 26 games and scored 264pts and looked set to break Laurie Daniel's long standing club record of 305pts set in 1971-72 while wing Marc Batten had scored 22 tries in 22 games. Following the Torquay game on the last Saturday of the year Mike Lewis shocked Newport when he decided to work and play in Italy following the long National Coal Board strike which had proved a hardship for him and his family.
The next 3 months saw injury hit players Batten, Coombes, Morgan, Widdecombe, Rendall and Powell and Newport won 6 and lost 6 of their 12 matches including a 3rd round loss to South Wales Police at Rodney Parade in the Welsh Cup. Newport did recover to win their last 6 matches in April with impressive wins over Bath and London Welsh the English Cup Champions and runners-up.
Mike Watkins resigned from the Welsh team captaincy but decided to continue at club level for Newport. He played for the Barbarians and completed 40 appearances for Newport 1st XV. He was followed by vice capt Chris Williams (38), Richie Collins (38), John Rawlins (35) and David Waters (35). Top points scorer was Mike Lewis with 264pts from 26 games while Marc Batten scored 24 tries in 32 games. Young fullback Arwel Parry scored 89pts in the last 11 games including a 51yd penalty to finally beat Pontypool at Rodney Parade after 15 consecutive defeats. David Waters played for Wales B and the Barbarians.
March saw the WRU Challenge Cup Semi Final between Pontypool and Cardiff staged at Rodney Parade.
